POLAND Multinational Spatial Planning Experience of the Baltic Sea Region Competitiveness and territorial cohesion in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe Magdalena Zagrzejewska-Fiedorowicz
VASAB 2010 Visions and Strategies around the Baltic Sea Voluntary Co-operation co-operation of 11 of national Ministers ministries responsible in charge for of spatial development planning in and 11 countries development around the Baltic Sea Established in 1992 to develop common spatial Its mission vision of the BSR Develop Covers all countries bordering the Baltic Sea, plus Belarus a common framework for national spatial development policies Old EU members (DK, SE, FIN, DE) Promote New EU transnational members co-operation (PL, LT, LV, between EE) regions and cities Integrate Non-EU the members territorial (RUS, dimension BY, NO) in the work of other pan-baltic organisations + RU and DE regions In 1994 Tallinn Conference accepts Vision 2010, establishes permanent Committee on Spatial Development (CSD) and Secretariat 2
Based on values dialoque instrument with the other Organisations Sea Region Agenda 21 for the Baltic INTERREG II C/ III B Sustainable development Freedom Subsidiarity Solidarity Projects (135) Other projects 3
VASAB 2010 Geopolitical context From 1992.. Established in 1992 to develop common spatial vision of the BSR Covers all countries bordering the Baltic Sea, plus Belarus Old EU members (DK, SE, FIN, DE) New EU members (PL, LT, LV, EE) Non-EU members (RUS, BY, NO) + RU and DE regions to 2008-9 members of the EU -Interface between EU and Russia 4
VASAB 2010 Visions and Strategies around the Baltic Sea Relatively informal character of VASAB Not overburdened with any formal procedures Lean structures and small budget Easy to focus on strategic issues Flexible in finding right focus 5
I. Pearls Urban network of international importance The Vision and Strategies (1994) Talinin Report - Elaborating the basis for co-operation Projecting a visionary picture of BSR II. Strings Effective and sustainable links between cities III. Patches Areas supporting dynamism and quality of life IV. System Comprehensive spatial planning in function 6
VASAB 2010 Dynamic Process still based on 1994 Vision (2009) Long-term Perspective for the Spatial Development of the Baltic Sea Region 2005 6th Ministerial Conference, Gdańsk, 19 September 2005 2003 2005 Connecting Potentials Policy Document 2001 VASAB 2010 PLUS Spatial Development Action Programme Wismar Report 1998 VASAB 2010 PLUS INTERREG III B Project 1996 From Vision to Action Stockholm Report 1994 VASAB 2010 Vision and Strategies around the Baltic 2010 Tallinn Report 1992 1st Conference in Karlskrona 7
6. Integrated development of coastal zones and islands 8 VASAB 2010 PLUS (2001)- Wismar Report - 6 Key Themes Territorial developments & promoting integrated spatial planning 1.. Co-operation operation of urban regions on key issues of sustainable development 2. Strategic spatial development zones important for transnational integration within the BSR 3. Transnational transport links important for cross-bsr and cross-europe integration 4. Diversification and strengthening of rural areas 5. Development of transnational green networks incl. cultural landscapes
VASAB 2010 Gdańsk Declaration 2005 Towards greater spatial integration Focus on EU policies: Cohesion & Neighbourhood 1. To prepare a long-term perspective for the spatial development of the Region 2. To actively influence future territorial cooperation programmes 3. To actively take part in the European process of territorial cohesion (Rotterdam-Luxembourg process) 4. To stimulate and support projects that create model solutions 5. To initiate and organise exchange of knowledge on spatial planning and development. 9
VASAB 2010 Visions and Strategies around the Baltic Sea Main task for the Committee on Spatial Development of the Baltic Sea Region till 2010 is to prepare : LONG TERM PERSPECTIVE FOR SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE REGION Council of the Baltic Sea States Communiqué of 9-10 June 2005 Encouragement to update the vision of long-term territorial development of the Region together with the relevant regional stakeholders 10
LONG TERM PERSPECTIVE (LTP) identifies the most important BSR specific developmental assets, development potentials, integrative trends and main global processes (risks) influencing BSR spatial development in a long run underlines common interests and/or potential conflicts provides a comprehensive overview of main BSR actors/plans with a spatial impact shows the BSR in 15-20 years as a result of joint efforts of countries and organizations provides instruments to guide and coordinate policies with a spatial impact for a better BSR integration identifies the most important actions for BSR spatial development and cohesion in a long run 11
LONG TERM PERSPECTIVE (LTP) Three Working Groups The work on the LTP has started: VASAB Swedish chairmanship paper on character of the LTP, its main goal, structure and work schedule accepted by CSD in Stockholm on 8-9 March 2007 Analytical work divided into 3 working groups (also main themes of LTP) has been established: WG1 - urban and urban-rural networking WG2 - accessibility and transnational development zones WG3 - ICZM and sea use planning Idea and approach presented to Russian stakeholders at All-Russian Forum of Strategic Planning Leaders in St.Petersburg on 18-19 October 2007 12
LONG TERM PERSPECTIVE (LTP) How preparation is organised: The LTP should be ready in 2009/2010 The first period till the end of 2008 is used for analytical work and in 2009 the drafting process should start Work is mainly based on national resources TACIS/Interreg project East West Window is used to involve RU, BY, PL, DK, LV and Nordregio experts October 2008 in St. Petersburg Summing up work on the first part of work on LTP and presenting the results to RU stakeholders 3 raports 13
LONG TERM PERSPECTIVE (LTP) Territorial information 5 main challenges Identifying the data relevant to the political objectives Collecting data beyond EU borders Addressing the full diversity of territories Tight collaboration between researchers and policymakers Addressing the challenges at multiple territorial scales 14
LONG TERM PERSPECTIVE (LTP) Identifying the data How to operationalise spatial integration? How do cities and regions interact with each other? 2 main dimensions Incentives (why?): trade, tourism, labour-market Means (how?): infrastructure, networks of actors, integration of systems 2 main territorial outlooks: Inward: integration within Outward: integration with its surroundings 15
LONG TERM PERSPECTIVE (LTP) Collecting the data How to gather the envisaged data? - 11 countries, 9 in EU/EEA, Russia and Belarus Key challenges: Availability and comparability of data Eurostat and ESPON do not provide data for Russia and Belarus: Other international bodies compiling data: OECD, World Bank, International Energy Agency, UNECE National statistics: one (or more!) expert per country Resource and time consuming, but data quality and relevance is secured 16
LONG TERM PERSPECTIVE (LTP) Addressing a diverse territory Beyond the NUTS Most data from Eurostat are still compiled at NUTS 2 level In the BSR, 4 countries are NUTS 2 units Use of traditional administrative units not adapted to embrace the full scale of the territorial challenges Islands Mountains Sparsely populated areas SMESTOS Municipal data, network data, point data 17
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Beyond the NUTS LONG TERM PERSPECTIVE (LTP) Addressing a diverse territory Most data from Eurostat are still compiled at NUTS 2 level In the BSR, 4 countries are NUTS 2 units Use of traditional administrative units not adapted to embrace the full scale of the territorial challenges Islands Mountains Sparsely populated areas SMESTOS Municipal data, network data, point data 19
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An incremental process LONG TERM PERSPECTIVE (LTP) Collaboration between researchers and policymakers on data issues Ensure the scientific soundness and political relevance Not about delivering data, maps or tables Mutual learning step-by-step process leading to the identification of the main challenges hampering spatial integration Enabling policymakers and stakeholders to react and elaborate the potential policy responses with their own knowledge of the situation on the ground 21
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LONG TERM PERSPECTIVE (LTP) Advantages of such a cooperation Recognition of processes having strong spatial impact (in particular those of sectoral nature) at the state level - Influence on national legislation, plans and documents to make them Baltic friendly - The same should happen to investments but this is more difficult - Creation of the forum for discussing strategic issues and challenges not biased by day-to to-day administrative operations - Attempt to take care of the long-term Baltic results of the spatial actions of different stakeholders - Continuity and reliability - Integration of the spatial planning parts of the central governments ents in the BSR facilitates building of a common region 23
LONG TERM PERSPECTIVE (LTP) Grasping the multi-scalar dimension of the challenges Territories belong to multiple layers Address issues from the local to the global Territorial challenges are often connected: case of seaports and airports: between global connectivity and local accessibility Special focus on cross-border and transnational issues Border: interface for transnational interactions Border as an obstacle for mobility and exchanges Internal and external borders poses distinct challenges 24
LONG TERM PERSPECTIVE (LTP) Conclusion Lessons learned: - Political anchorage is important but equally important is strong and appealing leadership - Deepening the vision is a permanent dynamic process - Keeping balance between two functions of the visionary co- operation : : strategic planning and project initiation/monitoring projects results 25
VASAB ACTIVE INFLUENCE EU Territorial Agenda and Leipzig Charter Stakeholders conference in Warsaw, November 2006 VASAB Non-paper as outcome of the Conference Follow up on Territorial Agenda Action Program and Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities EU Maritime Policy Baltic 21 and VASAB joint statement on Green Paper VASAB WG3 follow up on Blue Book HELCOM BSAP VASAB chairmanship statement supported BSAP and Recommendations on marine spatial planning principles Considering deeper involvement in implementation of BSAP 26
How can VASAB contribute to V4+2? It is a positive action in a field of co-operation researchers and policymakers gives the possibility to conduct scientific analyses in the context of a defined co-operation area What happens in the surrounding of the V4 +2 space influences its endogenous development? expand the analysis of territorial developments to neighbouring and border regions Territorial challenges are complex and evolving and require innovative approaches, both methodological and collaborative 27
Thank you for your attention! www.mrr.gov.pl See also www.vasab.org